F1 Styrian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Latest updates as Verstappen dominates practice – UK start time, stream, TV channel

DAN THE MAN

Daniel Ricciardo has reacted to today’s practice…

MERC TO DISCUSS

Lewis Hamilton has started negotiations with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff over a new deal for next season.

The 36-year-old is out of contract at the end of the year after only agreeing a 10-month deal in February, worth around £40million.

The Brit had maintained that he was keeping his options open but has now given a firm indication he wants to continue to fight for championships in 2022.

When quizzed by SunSport as to whether he had started talks with the team, Hamilton said: “We have begun discussions, and, not a lot to say.

“It’s just that we have had discussions and things are positive.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Helmut Marko claims Red Bull Racing can go even faster in qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix than they did in practice.

When asked asked if Mercedes fully opened up its engine in qualifying, he told Motorsport-Magazin.com: “We haven’t turned it up yet either.

He added: “The long runs also looked good.”

DANGEROUS DRIVING

Valtteri Bottas spun his Mercedes in the pit lane during practice for the Styrian Grand Prix this weekend.

He has now been handed a three-place grid drop along with two penalty points on his licence.

The stewards’ verdict said: “When [Bottas] pulled away from his designated pit stop position, he lost control of the car when he turned into the fast lane.

“He oversteered, spun and came to a stop across the fast lane near the McLaren pits.

“During the hearing [Bottas] stated that in the past they have been losing time in the pit departure. So they tried something new, which was to leave in second gear.

“As a result, the wheel spin was much higher and the result unexpected. Therefore he didn’t manage to control the car properly into the fast lane.

“This has to be considered as potentially dangerous driving, especially as personnel were around in the pit lane.”

SPIN OUT

Valtteri Bottas spun his Mercedes in the pit lane during practice for the Styrian Grand Prix this weekend.

Here’s a closer look…

BOTTING HEADS

Valtteri Bottas spun his Mercedes in the pit lane during practice for the Styrian Grand Prix this weekend.

He said: “Yes, I spun.

“We tried something different getting out from the box and it was… yes – there were some variables to what we normally do with the wheelspin and that’s why I spun.

“I would be surprised if there is [a penalty]. It’s a normal mistake, it happens, but yes, I’m sure they’ll understand what happened.”

MORE FROM BEN HUNT

1996 champion Damon Hill says the cracks are beginning to show in Mercedes as they come under pressure from Red Bull.

He told the F1 podcast: “The thing that will become very interesting as we go through this year, is what is going to happen to this harmonious Mercedes team as we get further down the line?

“We know that Christian… there’s no love lost with any of his competitors. He’s quite happy to rib them when it goes wrong.

“I think the Mercedes looked a little bit off balance and a little bit concerned in a way that I’ve never seen them as a team before.”

LEW CAN’T BE SERIOUS

Christian Horner has taken a pop at Lewis Hamilton after the F1 champion raised suspicion over whether Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was legal.

Hamilton repeatedly made reference to Red Bull’s new Honda engine and their superior “straight-line speed” following Verstappen’s win in France.

F1 rules mean that teams must run the same engine specification all season and cannot perform upgrades.

That was confirmed by Merc boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Austrian GP, who also admitted their rivals’ speed was due to better aerodynamics, prompting a reaction from Horner.

The Red Bull boss said: “I think Toto has answered it very well and I think that maybe he should explain it to his driver.

“I listen with interest sometimes to the theories that Lewis has, which are some way from reality.

“We run less drag, less rear wing, and as a result go quicker down the straights sometimes.”

Mercedes and Red Bull have been at loggerheads this season over the legality of wings and tyre pressures as they both look to exploit holes in the rulebook.

And the row continues to rumble on, as Red Bull have lobbied the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to look into Merc’s front wing.

Verstappen told SunSport: “I do think that when you are checking the rear wing, you should also be checking the front wing.

“The front wing has a bigger effect on the car. It’s up to the FIA now to do these checks, because clearly they have done checks on the rear wings.”

TOP TEN FP2

1. VER – 1:05.412
2. RIC – Good performance after slow start in McLaren
3. OCO
4. HAM – Just over three tenths back
5. ALO – Second-highest lap count (39)
6. VET – Briefly led an Aston Martin one-two as conditions improved
7. NOR
8. STR
9. PER
10. GIO

CHEQUERED FLAG

Well this looked like a session disrupted by downpours as it got underway.

Instead, we saw more pieces of gravel thrown into the air than drops of rain – plus a pit-lane spin from one Valtteri Bottas.

Max Verstappen leads the timesheet having also claimed FP1.

FIVE TO GO

Will anyone come in for a fresh crack at a hot lap?

The conditions have been surprisingly good for the teams to get in some long runs, amid the threat of rain.

STEINER NONPLUSSED

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner tells Sky Sports that Valtteri Bottas’ spin is just ‘one of those things’.

He knows that every driver wants to put rubber down on their pit box to help the grip on their future launches, although spinning off while doing so is not recommended.

MAC ATTACK

McLaren’s pit crew were out as Valtteri Bottas flew past them, sideways.

It was very fortunate that his Mercedes did not collect anybody and race director Michael Masi is told over radio: “That’s absolutely ridiculous, he could have taken our guys out.”

FIFTEEN-POINT TURN

That was Valtteri Bottas getting on the gas as he left the pit lane to get some quick heat into his tyres.

But the wheelspin as he hit the painted tarmac spun his car, which mercifully avoided the walls on both sides.

After a bit of jimmying from his mechanics, the Finn is underway.

OOPSIE

Valtteri Bottas has just spun in the pit lane.

Not a good idea.

GIVES YOU WINGS

Max Verstappen certainly enjoying the Red Bull’s speed this session and is top with a 1:05.412, with Sergio Perez back in ninth.

But the race simulations mean lap counters are also pretty key with the entire pack clocking up 20 times around the Red Bull Ring so far, aside from Nicholas Latifi (17) and Pierre Gasly (zero).

POWER UP

Christian Horner has taken a pop at Lewis Hamilton after the F1 champion raised suspicion over whether Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was legal.

Hamilton repeatedly made reference to Red Bull’s new Honda engine and their superior “straight-line speed” following Verstappen’s win in France.

F1 rules mean that teams must run the same engine specification all season and cannot perform upgrades.

That was confirmed by Merc boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Austrian GP, who also admitted their rivals’ speed was due to better aerodynamics, prompting a reaction from Horner.

The Red Bull boss said: “I think Toto has answered it very well and I think that maybe he should explain it to his driver.

“I listen with interest sometimes to the theories that Lewis has, which are some way from reality.

“We run less drag, less rear wing, and as a result go quicker down the straights sometimes.”

RACE RUNS

The fuel is loaded up and tyres pushed to the limit with the pack undertaking race simulations.

They will be very happy to see conditions remain dry for the time being.

TOP TEN AT HALFWAY

1. VER
2. RIC
3. OCO
4. HAM
5. ALO
6. VET
7. NOR
8. STR
9. PER
10. SAI

PAIN IN THE GAS

Nothing from Pierre Gasly this session and his chances of a runout look slim.

A power unit issue is denying us the Frenchman for the time being.

Perhaps Nikita Mazepin was wishing he was back in the pits as he skidded across the gravel after Turn 4, knocking off Carlos Sainz’s naming rights for the bumpy patch.

LEW KNOW IT

And there it goes.

Lewis Hamilton bumps downs Sebastian Vettel and takes first with a 1:05.796.

Times are tumbling but the clouds are gathering, so this short period could decide the session with Esteban Ocon now jumping Hamilton.

ASTON’S MERRY WITH GOLD

It’s a one-two for Aston Martin!

The rain has momentarily subsided, the Soft tyres are on and Sebastian Vettel is leading FP2, just ahead of Lance Stroll.

BOTTAS ON THE SOFTS

No Hard tyre nonsense for Valtteri Bottas.

Going straight on the Softs, the Mercedes star looks to be setting a qualifying type hot lap and yet is still slower than Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman remains top despite being on a slower tyre…

Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton is in the pits after tickling Carlos Sainz’s gravel at Turn 4.

SAINZ OFF

Carlos Sainz skirts across the gravel after going around Turn 4.

The Spaniard luckily doesn’t collect anyone as he reverses back onto the track with a handful of stones brought back to the pits for his troubles.

MOST DRIVERS OUT NOW

Just Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly yet to hit the track.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is hanging back from his seat on the pit wall to get a feel for the weather, but Sergio Perez radios in to say the rain is not yet heavy enough to worry about.